Chapter 75: Smashing Someone with Money (Part 2)

Chapter 75: Smashing Someone with Money (Part 2)

Sounds like gout.

In her past life, Xianjin had been bedridden for years, frequently in and out of the hospital. Her long-term illness made her knowledgeable about basic ailments, and she could usually guess the general category of an illness.

Xianjin quickly put away the plum wine and Qingyu Dew, frowning as she said, "Let's not drink for now. We should wait until you see a doctor tomorrow."

Chen Fu exclaimed, "Ah! As the host, it wouldn't be right if I don't drink!"

You just want to drink yourself, don't you?

Xianjin paused, then changed her approach, "This wine isn't cheap. That young master from the Song family has been causing trouble for Chen's. He called me a bastard's child and gave Uncle Dong only five copper coins as a tip—do you really want to use this wine to entertain him?"

Chen Fu frowned, his anger flaring. He slapped the table, "That little brat is so despicable!"

He then picked up the wine jug, limping to the private room's door to ask the waiter to store it. With puffed cheeks, he shouted, "Cancel the stir-fried tripe and cold rabbit!"

He limped back, muttering, "Those two dishes are the best. I won't let that brat have them!"

Xianjin: "..."

What a mature counterattack!

As night fell, street vendors lit their lamps and set up their stalls. Soon, the streets were bustling with people, and the residents of Jing County began their lively and safe night lives.

Xianjin looked at the four lonely cold dishes in front of her, feeling calm and composed.

Wasn't it expected that Song Baixi would show up late, putting on airs?

Chen Fu, already infuriated by the insult "bitch," was also in pain from his foot and hungry. He was about to explode when he saw the waiter leading Song Baixi into the room.

This was the first time Xianjin met the rival who had sparred with her twice from a distance.

Tall and thin, wearing a long robe, he looked to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a hunched back and a long face. Squinting his eyes, he seemed to be nearsighted as he searched the room.

Xianjin smiled and stood up, "Are you Mr. Song? Please take a seat."

The waiter pulled out a chair.

Song Baixi squinted, not seeing the famous fifteen-year-old scholar Chen Erlang from the Chen family. Slightly disappointed, he lifted his chin, "No need! Since you invited me, I'm here to give you face. There's no reason for me to sit with someone born of a lowly woman."

"You—" Chen Fu tried to limp over and punch him.

Xianjin raised her hand to stop Chen Fu, her smile fading but her tone still light, "You're giving me face by coming here. Old Manager Chen is unwell, and you are the sole decision-maker in Song Kee, surely very busy."

Song Baixi's expression softened. Having read many books, his vision was blurry, but he could make out a vague image of a girl.

Even this vague image was impressive.

She had fair skin, a graceful figure, and was tall and slender, with rosy lips and white teeth—definitely not an ugly person.

Song Baixi hummed lightly, pushing the chair aside and sitting down. Closer, he could see Xianjin more clearly. She wore a simple light blue dress with a dark brown trim at the collar, her lips curved in a faint smile, her eyes slightly slanted, and her demeanor cool yet captivating.

Song Baixi swallowed nervously.

No one had told him that Manager He from Chen's was such a rare beauty!

If he had known earlier, he would have asked that old man to go easy on Chen's...

Xianjin personally poured Song Baixi a cup of fiery liquor, smiling warmly, "We should have invited you to dinner earlier. In Jing County, there are only three good paper merchants, and you are the only scholarly businessman. We should have come to pay our respects sooner. Unfortunately, we've been busy with other matters, especially after starting the calligraphy business."

Xianjin drank her tea, then used the empty teacup to toast Song Baixi's fiery liquor, smiling sweetly, "I can't drink, and Mr. Chen is unwell, so I'll toast you with tea. As a scholar, you must understand, right?"

Chen Fu frowned.

Scholars... why should they understand using tea to toast liquor?

Is it because they're book-smart?

Chen Fu thought Song Baixi would get angry, but instead, he downed the full cup of fiery liquor in one gulp.

Feeling elated, Song Baixi waved his hand, "You flatter me, you flatter me!"

Xianjin refilled Chen Fu's cup with light tea, lowering her posture, "Our Mr. Chen also wishes to toast you! If only our Mr. Chen were half as diligent and clever as you—he's always praised by our matriarch!"

Song Baixi felt like he was floating on air.

So this is what it feels like to be so respected in social settings?

No wonder that old man always went to banquets alone, never bringing him along! With his eloquence and sharp mind, he should have been running the shop long ago!

Under Xianjin's stern gaze, Chen Fu reluctantly picked up the teacup, lowered it, and gulped it down.

He, Mr. Chen, had never been so unchivalrous at a banquet in his life!

Song Baixi, flushed from the liquor, stood up and downed his cup when he saw Chen Fu's boldness.

Xianjin clapped and praised his scholarly spirit and vigor.

Feeling inspired, Song Baixi toasted again in the name of the matriarch, Chen's second master, and the rising star.

The waiter brought in several hot dishes, but before Song Baixi could pick up his chopsticks, he heard a sigh from the next table. A soft voice murmured, "...Seeing is believing. Everyone says the young master of the Song family is a natural scholar. If not for being tied down by mundane affairs, he would have been a top scholar and probably already in the Hanlin Academy..."

Song Baixi, feeling like his head was stuffed with cotton, replied thickly, "Who said otherwise... I was indeed held back by external affairs. Otherwise, I would have been in the imperial exams by now!"

Chen Fu turned away.

You haven't even passed the preliminary exams, how can you be talking about the imperial examinations?

Drinking business wine is truly unbearable.

Xianjin nodded in agreement with utmost sincerity, her eyes shining as she looked at that foolish hunchback...

Chen Fu decided to visit the workshop tomorrow.

Sister Jin's conviction is too strong; she has sacrificed so much!

"Is there still a chance to study now?"

Xianjin smiled and put a piece of vegetarian chicken in her mouth, sighing regretfully, "A potential third-place laureate who cannot study is like someone born with great strength but unable to compete for the martial championship—it’s such a waste."

Third-place laureate!

With an empty stomach, the burning liquor took effect without any hindrance. Song Baixi's mind was muddled, yet he precisely latched onto the words "third-place laureate."

Yes!

Someone young, good-looking, and capable of studying would surely be chosen as a third-place laureate once they passed the exams!

Song Baixi shook his head, as if already seeing the long street lined with red banners welcoming him!

Unfortunately, he no longer studied...

Song Baixi raised his head and drank a toast to himself.

Xianjin muttered, "Actually, it's not too late for you to start studying now. The person who used to control you is paralyzed, and the workers in the workshop have found new paths... You are free to pursue your dreams..."

Indeed...

The person who controlled him can’t even speak anymore! How could they lecture him now!

And those illiterate workers.

Led by that Master Gao, they reeked, sour and stinky, like a handkerchief buried in the ground for forty or fifty days, pungent and eye-watering.

These people are no longer around!

His father, who forced him to take over Song Kee, died four or five years ago!

He... is no longer controlled by anyone!

Song Baixi was overwhelmed by this realization.

Xianjin chatted casually with Chen Fu, laughing, "If I had my way, I'd take the silver and go to Yunnan, Yanbian, Fujian, and Ryukyu... No one would tell me what to do."

Xianjin chuckled and toasted Song Baixi again, "I really envy you! You can do whatever you want! If I were you, I’d sell Song Kee and take the money to Capital City to study! Once you pass the exams and return in glory, wouldn’t that be better than earning a few silver pieces to honor your ancestors?!"

"Creak—" It was as if a large door had opened before Song Baixi.

"Bang bang bang—" Chen Fu's heart pounded fiercely in his chest. This lady is... is... too cunning... She had this plan all along!

Song Baixi gripped his wine cup tightly, the alcohol surging through him, "What did you say?"

Xianjin nonchalantly ate a piece of tofu and shouted, "I said, if I were you, I’d sell the shop and take the money to Capital City to study at the Imperial Academy! It’s much easier to pass the exams there!"

Song Baixi's ears buzzed, as if struck by a sudden, overwhelming surprise. His vision blurred, overlapping and lagging.

"How... how do I sell it?"

Song Baixi stammered, "The shop is leased, and the workers... the workers ran away..."

Indeed, everyone leases their shops from the government.

Xianjin laughed, "What about your warehouse?! There must be some inventory there, right? And your brand! The ‘Song Kee’ brand!"

Xianjin joked loudly, "Like this! Considering our friendship, I’ll offer a thousand taels for your paper in the warehouse and take over the lease of your shop!"

The young girl sounded as if she were joking, speaking loudly and clearly not seriously.

But Song Baixi took it seriously.

He had nothing left to lose...

There was nothing in his warehouse!

Except for three thousand sheets of Coral Peach paper, cut into book pages!

Each sheet of Coral Peach paper could sell for two or three taels, costing about half a tael to one tael to produce... But he had cut the three thousand sheets!

Cut paper is worthless!

Song Baixi stared at Xianjin, a surge of malice rising in his heart.

If a thousand taels could get rid of those three thousand sheets of paper... he would be relieved and have money... enough to live comfortably in Capital City and study seriously for four or five years...

Miss this opportunity, and it won’t come again!

He had to gamble on the fact that this pretty girl didn’t know about the state of those three thousand sheets of Coral Peach paper!

Song Baixi grabbed his wine cup tightly, trying to keep his eyes open wide, "Are you serious?!"

Xianjin pursed her lips, trying to hide her smile.

Chen Fu looked at Xianjin in surprise—didn’t he remember that there were only about three hundred taels in the account?